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CHAPTER 06
After returning to my room, I threw myself onto the bed. It had only been a short time, but the sensation of holding a sword still lingered in my fingertips. I was tired, yet strangely calm.
Leon’s gaze flashed through my mind. Without a doubt, feelings had begun to sprout toward me.
The scene from the original story came to mind, but I simply pressed my lips together firmly. This time, things would unfold differently.
“There’s no need to worry.”
Twilight settled beyond the window. The day was quickly coming to an end, but countless paths still lay ahead of me.
Lina brought dinner, but I only ate a few spoonfuls before stopping. At her worried gaze, I gave her a light smile.
As night deepened, exhaustion washed over me. But it wasn’t anxiety. Perhaps it was anticipation.
What kind of situation would come tomorrow? I already had the courage to face it.
The next morning, I opened my eyes to sunlight filtering through the window. My body was still sore from yesterday’s sword training, but my mind felt noticeably lighter.
“Lady! Lady!”
Lina’s urgent voice came from beyond the door. I quickly got up and opened it.
“Lina, what is it?”
“This… please look at this!”
What she handed me was a luxurious envelope. Judging by the golden seal, it was clearly from the imperial palace.
“It’s another letter from His Highness the Crown Prince!”
My heart felt like it dropped.
So he finally wants to meet me in person.
My fingertips trembled slightly. The red seal on the envelope was perfectly intact, and I carefully, very carefully opened the letter.
“To my beloved Lillian,”
“Beloved? What nonsense is that.”
I swallowed my rising irritation and continued reading.
I was pleased to hear that you have returned from the North. I would like to share tea and conversation with you at the Imperial Palace this afternoon.
I await your reply.
— Aiden Escaril
“Haa…”
I let out a sigh and put the letter down. It was something I couldn’t avoid forever anyway. There were things I had to do after meeting Crown Prince Aiden Escaril, the original character.
At that moment, there was another knock.
“Lady, another letter has arrived!”
This time, Lina handed me a pale lavender envelope. The delicate lace decoration and rose-shaped seal stood out.
It was the seal of House Edelain.
“No way…”
I opened the letter.
To the noble Lady Floris, good morning. I am Scarlett Edelain.
If you have time this afternoon, I would be delighted if you could visit our estate. I will prepare delicious tea and cake and wait for you.
— Scarlett Edelain
I read the letter again and again.
In the original story, Scarlett Edelain was an antagonist who hated Lillian.
She loved Crown Prince Aiden, but when he only looked at Lillian, she eventually became an enemy and was willing to use any means necessary to harm her.
And that Scarlett was now inviting me to tea as if nothing had ever happened?
“Something is strange…”
The situation was clearly different from the original.
I already knew that because I had acted differently, the future had begun to shift.
Even so, there was no reason for Scarlett to treat me kindly.
If anything, open hostility should have come first by now.
…Then.
This letter might not be simple goodwill.
It could be a warning, or a form of probing.
Or perhaps a signal that the story was trying to return to its original course and pull me back in.
I looked down at the letter again and carefully swallowed.
The only thing I knew, as someone who knew the original story, was this: I couldn’t trust it easily.
I alternated between the two letters, deep in thought. The Crown Prince’s invitation was hard to refuse, but Scarlett’s invitation… intrigued me.
In this situation where things were diverging from the original, I wanted to see for myself what Scarlett was thinking.
“Lina, tell His Highness the Crown Prince that I am not feeling well today and cannot meet him. Instead, send a reply to Lady Scarlett saying I will gladly visit her.”
“W-what? But Lady, refusing the Crown Prince and choosing Lady Edelain….”
“It’s fine. Sometimes unexpected choices lead to more interesting results.”
Lina still looked worried, but she nodded and left the room.
I stood in front of the mirror, deciding what to wear. It couldn’t be too extravagant, nor too plain.
Something appropriate for visiting the Edelain estate, while not appearing defensive.
I chose a pale lavender dress. It was simple yet elegant, and would suit a rose garden well.
Afternoon
I headed to the Edelain estate.
Inside the carriage, I steadied my thoughts while looking out the window. There was no anxiety or hesitation.
The estate was as beautiful as expected. Gothic architecture blended perfectly with a meticulously maintained rose garden.
Stepping down from the carriage, I lifted my head and walked forward. Soon the doors opened, and a maid greeted me.
“The young lady is waiting for you.”
As I entered the reception room, Scarlett rose from the sofa. She greeted me with aristocratic grace.
“Lady Floris, thank you for coming.”
Scarlett greeted me elegantly, her expression calm. Her gaze was not cold or threatening, but warm—like someone welcoming a friend she had long awaited.
I was momentarily flustered, but quickly returned the greeting.
“Hello, Lady Edelain.”
Scarlett slightly lowered her head and said gently,
“You may speak comfortably. Please call me Scarlett.”
After a brief hesitation, I smiled and replied,
“Then please call me Lillian as well.”
Scarlett nodded with satisfaction.
“Good, Lillian. Then feel free to relax.”
Then she gently took my hand. It was neither cold nor warm—just a strangely firm touch.
She led me to the back of the estate, and before my eyes unfolded a breathtaking view.
An endless rose garden stretched out, petals shimmering under the sunlight as a faint fragrance drifted through the air. Red roses filled the garden like a painting.
The whisper of flowers in the wind and sunlight filtering through the trees created a serene, elegant stillness—as if time itself had stopped.
Scarlett walked among the roses, gesturing for me to follow.
“These roses are the pride of House Edelain. I prepared everything in advance, so please take your time looking around.”
At the center of the garden, an elegant table was already set with a luxurious tea set and delicate desserts.
Seeing everything perfectly prepared, I could tell how carefully Scarlett had planned this meeting.
But as I looked at the roses, memories from the original story suddenly surfaced.
Scenarios where Scarlett poisoned rose thorns to harm Lillian.
Plans to mix hallucinogens into the fragrance of roses to incapacitate her…
These were “Lillian’s” memories.
But in this moment, I couldn’t sense any malice from Scarlett. Instead, she looked like a girl who genuinely wanted to make a friend.
“Lillian, are you alright? Your face suddenly looks—”
Scarlett asked calmly. I touched my forehead and looked up.
“Sorry… I suddenly have a headache.”
“Please sit here. You’ll feel better after some tea.”
Scarlett guided me to the chair and personally poured the tea. Every movement was refined etiquette, yet carried sincere care.
“This tea is made from herbs grown in our garden. It has a calming effect.”
After taking a sip, I truly felt better. A gentle floral aroma spread through my body.
“Thank you. It’s really good tea.”
“I’m glad. Actually… the reason I invited you today is…”
Scarlett hesitated briefly, then said seriously,
“I wanted to become friends.”
I almost choked.
Scarlett looked flustered, but her expression was sincere—like someone truly wishing to become a friend.
“…I’ll ask directly. Why do you want to be friends with me?”
“There’s no special reason. I just… think you’re an interesting person.”
Her answer was unexpectedly straightforward. But it still wasn’t enough.
“But… His Highness the Crown Prince is your fiancé. In such a situation, wanting to befriend me…”
“Oh, that?”
Scarlett set down her teacup and smiled.
“To be honest, I plan to take revenge on Aiden. If my fiancé is drawn to another woman, it only makes my plan easier.”
I tensed at her words. So she really is the same Scarlett from the original?
But she immediately added,
“Of course, I have no intention of harming you, Lillian. Quite the opposite. Over time, I realized something. The reason Aiden doesn’t truly see me isn’t because of you.”
“What do you mean?”
“He… was never someone who knew how to love properly. He confuses obsession and possession with love.”
There was surprising insight in her words.
“You must have felt it too. How heavy his gaze is. How suffocating it can be.”
That was true. Even in the original story and in his letters so far, Aiden’s feelings were closer to obsession than love.
Scarlett looked into the distance and quietly added,
“Actually… I once had a terrible dream. Or rather… it was too vivid to call it a dream.”
In that dream, I was a terrible person. I acted out of jealousy, tried to harm others, and did all kinds of vile things to win Crown Prince Aiden Escaril’s love.
But in the end… I died. By Aiden’s hand. The moment he decided I was no longer useful, he eliminated me without hesitation.
In that dream, Aiden never loved me. I was only kept around when I had value—used as a tool for political purposes, a means to reach Lillian Floris.
“So this time… I want revenge too. Just like he tried to use me, I will use him.”
“Revenge…”
“Of course, not directly. But preventing him from getting what he wants most… that alone would be enough revenge.”
Her gaze locked onto me. Then she suddenly waved her hands in embarrassment.
“Ah, sorry! That got too dark, didn’t it? Talking about this right after meeting… how rude of me.”
She smiled brightly again and poured more tea.
“What I truly want is simple. I just want to be friends with you, Lillian. Without complicated calculations or interests—just accepting each other as we are.”
There was sincerity in her eyes.
The Scarlett from the original story—who once schemed to harm me—was now looking at me with eyes full of honesty, asking to be friends.
…Could it be that even someone called a villain could truly become a friend?
But thinking about it, that might actually be better.
If I had someone beside me who understood and supported me rather than trying to destroy me, I might avoid falling into the tangled obsession and despair of the original story.
Yes. If I could choose, I would make her my friend.
Someone who could protect and understand me… someone I could protect in return.
Scarlett looked at me for a moment. I smiled slightly and asked carefully,
“Can I call you Letty?”
She blinked.
“Letty?”
“Short for Scarlett. Friends use nicknames, don’t they?”
Scarlett closed her eyes briefly, then gave a bittersweet yet gentle smile.
That smile carried the weight of the past and the desire not to lose the present moment.
“Letty… I like it. It suits me.”
I smiled softly in return.
“Then you can call me Lily. We’re real friends now.”
“Lily…”
She said my name. Her voice was calm and composed, yet somehow warm.
Her smile was different from her perfect social smile before. It was pure, honest—like a girl shedding every layer of pretense.
A fragrant breeze passed through the rose garden. Two girls who were once destined to be enemies were now beginning to write a new story.
“Want more tea? It’s still warm.”
She lifted the teapot and asked warmly. But at that moment—
A flash of lightning struck through my mind.
Scarlett pouring poison into a teacup. Lillian collapsing after drinking it.
No. She’s not that person anymore.
She just said she sincerely wanted to be friends.
But my body reacted first. My heart pounded, and cold sweat formed on my palms.
The memories of the original story were too vivid. Even if I knew logically it was fine, I couldn’t suppress my instincts.
“Oh… sorry. I think it’s getting late.”
I forced a natural smile and stood up.
“I really enjoyed today. I’m glad I became friends with Letty. Let’s meet again.”
“Yes, definitely. Next time… let’s spend more time together.”
Scarlett saw me off to the gate, looking a little sad.
And then—
“Lillian.”
A familiar yet cold voice came from the entrance of the garden.
I slowly turned around.
The moment I saw the man standing there, it felt like all the blood in my body froze.
Golden hair. Deep black eyes. A perfectly sculpted face hiding something dangerous beneath it.
Crown Prince Aiden Escaril had appeared.
“We were supposed to meet this afternoon…”
When did I agree to that…? More importantly, how did he even know I was here?
“You said you weren’t feeling well. Yet seeing you here so healthy… is quite interesting.”
His voice was gentle, but the cold anger beneath it could not be hidden.
The Crown Prince Aiden Escaril from the original story had finally appeared.
